October 20, 2025

Portland State University and Portland Community College (PCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last week, committing to a collaborative relationship that will boost the region's understanding of the value of higher education and clear pathways for students to earn a 4-year degree. 

Portland State University will begin a nationwide search for the next Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. Share your perspective by taking a community input survey, and join a series of Listening Sessions for faculty, staff and students.

This week, PSU employees will have an opportunity to hear from some of the people involved in the Operational Excellence work, an initiative that has been underway for a year and is dedicated to improving our administrative structures in ways that not only address financial sustainability but also prioritize the support and service we provide to our faculty, staff, students and community. The areas of focus are: Finance, Human Resources and Marketing Communications. At this week’s town hall, you’ll learn about how the work was done and how the groups arrived at their recommendations. There will also be time for Q&A.

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 12:45 - 1:20 p.m.

Hoffmann Hall

This is an in-person event. A recording will be shared in next week’s edition of Currently.

The Administrative Briefing that was held on Wednesday, Oct. 15, is now available for viewing online. The briefing included information about PSU’s status as a sanctuary campus, updates on research funding and the university budget, and an introduction to a new initiative to help students make connections: Find Your PSU.

ALSO: Curious about the latest with the PSU Plan for Institutional Vitality and Organizational Transformation (PIVOT)? Read this month's PIVOT Pulse Check. 

OIT has been working on an improved digital experience for faculty, staff, and student employees. If you are a PSU employee, myPSU now contains links to all of the resources from the Employee, Faculty, and Finance tabs in Banweb. The myPSU student interface still appears for everyone, regardless of whether one is taking classes or not. Starting on Oct. 29, Banweb will no longer be available.

Nominate a colleague for one of PSU’s annual Research Awards, via Research & Graduate Studies. Initial nomination forms are due next Monday, October 27. Nominations must be completed by Monday, November 17, 2025.

Fall applications for the Research Bridge Fund are due October 31st. These funds support critical research programs and sponsored activities with up to $25,000 for non-tenure research faculty experiencing a temporary loss of external funding.

An ORCID iD is a unique, persistent, and portable identifier that links your name to all your scholarly work, such as your publications, professional service, and other contributions. The University Library and Research & Graduate Studies encourage faculty and academic track graduate students to create an ORCID iD to establish their scholarly identity and create an authenticated record of their scholarship.

Want to learn how an ORCID iD can benefit you, how to easily build your record, and keep it up to date? Join one of our fall workshops! We're offering both in-person and online sessions to help you get started.

PSU President Ann Cudd is planning new opportunities for movement and connection on campus. Move with the President is a series of physical activity opportunities where staff, faculty and students can interact with President Cudd and get some exercise. Two upcoming Community Hour opportunities include: 

— Run with the President (5K at 10-minute mile pace): Friday, October 24: Meet in the RMNC lobby at 12:45 p.m.

— Walk with the President, Tuesday, October 27: Meet in the RMNC lobby at 12:45 p.m.

Join Campus Rec for a refreshing Pop-Up Play on the South Park Blocks this Wednesday, October 22, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. This week, we're flowing into Stretch to the Rhythm with a relaxing yoga session led by Jessica Boyd, accompanied by the live acoustic sounds of Hannah Dimo. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or trying it for the first time, everyone is welcome to drop in for a few minutes or the full hour. Campus Rec staff will be on hand to answer questions and guide the activities. Come unwind with us!

Dive into a "Monsters in the Deep" themed pool party at Campus Rec! We'll transform the pool into a silly underwater world with sea monster inflatables and "bubble" monsters, perfect for a fun evening for families. Make a splash with us this Friday, October 24, from 5-7 p.m. This event is a partnership with the Services for Students With Children (SSWC), providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all ages to splash and play.

Oregon’s public universities, including Portland State, are the state’s economic engine. Legislators will likely have to make tough budget decisions this February, and we must remind them that higher education is an investment in our future, not a cost to contain. We need you to contact legislators today to urge them to protect the investments they’ve made to the Public University Support Fund, the primary state investment that keeps college affordable and opportunity within reach for Oregon students and families. Cutting contributions to higher education will only shift the burden onto students and weaken the state’s ability to grow its economy.

It only takes a minute to make a difference. Send an email to your legislators with just a few clicks.

The inaugural InnovAIte Symposium will take place on Friday, October 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the SMSU ballroom. InnovAIte Academy participants will showcase their AI projects, and the agenda will include a panel, guest speaker and networking with campus and community stakeholders interested in AI.

This public event features 22 fellows from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations presenting projects they developed during their four weeks in Portland. Hear how they plan to apply their learning back home through initiatives on education, youth empowerment, advocacy, health, arts and governance.

Drop by anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. in the Board Room (ASRC 515)  on Tuesday, October 21. Please help us spread the word!

The PSU Alumni Association is partnering with Bloodworks NW to hold a blood drive outside the Simon Benson House on October 22 for alumni and the PSU community. Sign up today to donate blood and help save lives and make a difference!

Portland's Cha Cha Cha Taqueria and Smash Attack burgers are now on the menu at Smith's Kitchen in Smith Memorial Student Union. Cha Cha Cha Taqueria brings authentic recipes from south and central Mexico including tacos, burritos, bowls and Mexican pizza. Smash Attack burgers is squashing ground beef into your next great lunch. They are featuring burgers, cheesesteaks and loaded fries.

Kunniq’s Grill is still at Smith's Kitchen with campus favorites such as chicken tenders, quesadillas and their Hawaiian chicken plate. Ace Sushi features ready-to-go sushi rolls and fresh bowls. Most stations have a swipe bite option that works with PSU meal plans and all of them take Dining Dollars!

Smith’s Kitchen serves hot food from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. M-Th; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. It’s next door to the University Market and Bowery Bagels on the ground floor of Smith.

This is PSU's first-ever Career Week! Career Week is PSU students' chance to turn what they are learning at PSU into what’s next. Whether students are figuring out their first step or ready to make big moves, this week is packed with opportunities to explore, connect and grow.

Here’s what’s happening:

— Resume Reviews & Headshots: Get expert feedback from real recruiters and walk away with a professional photo.

— Networking & Industry Events: Meet employers and alumni who’ve been where you are and can help you get where you want to go.

— The Fall Career Fair: Your one-stop shop to connect with 100+ employers hiring for jobs and internships across industries.

Career Week runs October 20–24, with the Fall Career Fair on October 27.

Have a job that you want to promote internally?

Email Currently@pdx.edu for inclusion in an upcoming newsletter. Please limit submissions to 100 words or less.

All week

PTXM Sustainable Legacies | Oxana Ake: Meadow in Flower

Storywork: The Prints of Marie Watt, From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation

Deinum Prize Showcase Exhibition: Missing Everglades of the West

Monday, Oct. 20

Biology Seminar Series: Gene Specialization Following Whole Genome Duplications

PSU & PCC Joint Reading - Visiting Writers Series: Margaret Juhae Lee, Ross Showalter, and Julia Gaskill

Friends of Chamber Music: Esmé Quartet

Tuesday, Oct. 21

Friends of Chamber Music: Esmé Quartet

Wednesday, Oct. 22

Reading Community-Engage Learning (CEL)

Career Catalysts: STEM Internship Panel

Thursday, Oct. 23

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series Presents Molly Dyson

PSU Technical Communication and Write the Docs PDX Annual Supermeetup

Fright Night: A Halloween Circus

Women's Soccer v. Montana

Volleyball v. Eastern Washington

Friday, Oct. 24

Innovation & 3-Minute Thesis Info Session

Music @ Midday: George Colligan Featuring Zyanna

Andries Deinum Prize Showcase: Film Screening & Reception with 2024 Prize Recipient Adrianna Jasso

Fright Night: A Halloween Circus

Saturday, Oct. 25

Volleyball v. Idaho

PDX Threadna: Embroidering and Collaging Our Lineage

Maize: Archives of Culture, Ecosystems & Resistance

Fright Night: A Halloween Circus

Sunday, Oct. 26

Fright Night: A Halloween Circus

Find more events at: PSU Events, OAI Events, Viks Athletics

Presented

Linnea Goranson and Hollie Hix-Small; Daniel Jaffee; Yi-Wen Su, Lindsay Vik, Kate Friedman, Yun Shi, April Dodson, and Deanna Cor; Yi-Wen Su, JJP Veerman, Hyeyoung Woo

People

Martín Alberto Gonzalez, Hyeyoung Woo

Published/Exhibited

 John Hall, Aaron Roussell 

 

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CURRENTLY is a weekly newsletter for the employees of Portland State University, published by University Communications. News items, events and accolades should be sent to currently@pdx.edu. Deadline is noon, the Tuesday before publication. See the Currently website for submission guidelines and schedule.